Buffalo Bill: His Life and Adventures in the Wild West — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

] sentati ait ii sen of of th fi-trees OF t the fo Ak: dw ing: oR are bodily lifted r ellars, a ae steeple, Nothing that men solid, but is shattered, nothing that deem, secure, but is uproote and pothall of. | ‘a storm was now overhead. na de a cet ee _ en V 7 ar PE ar rg which a drencher would spoil; but they preferred not to be taken a miles, 2 nd drop era down rather twisted ; e bf ali pe, in the Gulf of Mexico. — ‘a pay open window, and stood - ok he geen ¢ storm. at iol” we ee came ae Buffalo Billy, and — out toward the trail. Shere orsemes. were seen coming tow ard the cabin at a rapid gallop. rs Nee nd 10 be: they, Billy ?” asked Davie. a They ‘are gome of them horse-thieves, ag rt have been playing of late about here, and we'd better Sut eoyl gee us gO out? Thats 2 Let us coon up into the Ay: jest iy 2C they'll only wait till the storm bl ees ws over, and they really are coming he ere: for shelter.” Up to the loft of the erange, ee a 1 1 ap- o-doox , the boys went quickly and laid quiet ably own, peerirg through the cracks inthe f 3 boards. e four horsemen dashed “Up, ms astily unsaddled their horses and : cart Ua J ia HA obbled them with the lassu- a ‘rope, e) them out, and bounded into the sabi: a through ‘the window, just as the ston n i: es with fury Gpow forest and still a8 mice the boys lay, but they piciy losko! towards esci: other, for the ont ) anes) of the men : %low, one of was kindling a fire u. the broad ch himr ue them that, if discovered, ir lives would be the: forfeit. n fact, they were four of a band of out- ws s that had been infesting the country ate, stealing horses, and, in some cases, sng it and robbing the cabins of the rs, and one of + “was. fae oved: Jim, and when he ast here had led the massacre of old - Beal and his family and adherents. ter this idoldshlondod recital, which re oe one ae ‘Jim pro- sie af 2 ol S, -. he : P i ~~ ’ Mad tossed over. the "The be ys did not wear much gaudy rally v id, spun like tops, and play ie 3 gyrating, some two seetbahd | s reached. the old farmhouse, but look there, the mis- ein plainly related his revolver just visible over the edge of an As for myself,” he said, “I say strike. old Oody’s ranch, for he’s got dust,” The boys wore greatly alarmed at this, but, putting his mouth close to Davie Dunn's ear, Billy Cody whispered— eee “ Davie, you see that shutter in the end of the roof?” “Yes, Billy,” was tne trembling reply. _ “ Woll, you slip out of. there, drop to the ground and make for your home, and tell your father who is here.’ 3 And you, Billy?” | TH just keep ere, and if these follows attempt to go lil shoot ’em,”. “ But you can’t, Billy.” “Tvs got my revolver, Davie, and you. bet Vii use it. Go, but don’t make a fuss ; and get your father to come on with the setilers as soon as you can, for I won't be happy till you get back.” Billy bad a Colt's. revolver, 8 “presonit | from. his father, and imnew right well how: to use it. Davie Dunn was trembling consider- ably; but he arose noiselessly, crossed to. the window at the end of the roof, arid which was but a small aperture, closed by a wooden shutter, which he cautiously — opened, ‘The noise he made was drowned by the pelting rain and furious wind, and ~ the robbers went on chatting together, while Davie slipped out and dropped to the ground. | Bui ere he had been gone half-an-hour epee ee henta plan what was best 60 ee that night. = a the outlaws were ready to start, the rain having ceased in a measure, and night was coming on to hide their red deeds, “ Hold on, boys, for I’ve got ye all ‘covered. He’s a dead man who moves,” Billy had crept to the trap, and im his hoarsest tones had spoken, while the mer sprung to their feet at ee words, and, glancing upward, saw the threatening revolver. . One attempted to draw 2 weapon, but the boy’s forefinger touched the trigger, and lLynx-eyed Jim, the murderer of ‘Farmer Beal, feli dead, shot through the Vitals, on the hearth of the home which he and his savage allies had rendered deso- late. This stroke of providentiai judgment served a8 a warning to the others, and they stood like statues, while one said : “ Pard, who is yer ?” o But Billy feared again to trust his voics and answered nota word. He lay there, the boards, and covering the hearts cf the threes men crouching back into the corner, EONAIEC KOO KSs(EO) : . “ ‘> > i ae by ‘